It Runs in the Family: A Rare Case of Familial Idiopathic Colonic Varices

Division

Far West

Hospital

MountainView Hospital

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

5-5-2025

Keywords

Colonic varices, Colonoscopy, Familial, Idiopathic, Varices

Disciplines

Digestive System Diseases | Gastroenterology | Internal Medicine | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Colonic varices (CV) remain an extremely rare condition, the usual cause of which is portal hypertension due to liver disease, chronic pancreatitis or malignancy. Here we present a case of familial idiopathic CV in a middle-aged female, complicated by a polyp removal during colonoscopy.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 57-year-old female with a past medical history of 5 months of melena, polyps and hemorrhoids diagnosed with idiopathic CV during diagnostic colonoscopy. She had no prior history of liver disease, pancreatic disease, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) use, or blood thinner use. She was later found to have a family history of the condition.

CONCLUSION: The rarity of this case is of particular concern for clinicians due to its life threatening complication of severe lower gastrointestinal bleed - a true medical emergency. This is particularly difficult in the absence of usual predisposing triggers. Differential diagnoses should be considered in patients that present with rectal bleeding of unknown cause.

Publisher or Conference

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

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